Lukaku : I Have Ibra’s Permission Before Taking United No. 9 Jersey

Manchester United is delighted to announce the signing of Romelu Lukaku from Everton on a five-year contract, with an option to extend for a further year.

The 24-year-old completed a £75 million move to Old Trafford on Monday and is set to be the leading attacker at United. The Belgian international striker will join the team in LA ahead of pre-season training.

Lukaku has a formidable strike rate in the Premier League, but he admitted he needed to ask permission from one Red Devil if he could take on the No.9 shirt.

“I always asked my mother what number, and I used to play with the ten because my mother’s birthday is on October 10, so it’s the tenth month of the year,’ he told ESPN.

“Strikers play with No. 9. It’s a nice number, and I asked the permission of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. I want to thank him, as well, for allowing me to wear that number. I would like to start by thanking Everton and the fans for the last four wonderful seasons, I have made some special friends and we have shared some amazing moments.

“However, when Manchester United and Jose Mourinho come knocking at the door it is an opportunity of a lifetime and one that I could not turn down. You could see the fight, determination and the spirit in this team during the Europa League final and I want to become a part of that.

“I cannot wait to run out at Old Trafford in front of 75,000 fans but before that pre-season is where the hard work starts and I am looking forward to that first training session.”